Rachel yelling at me didn’t help. She was really angry, her cheeks bright red and her hands in fists at her side, as if she were ready to punch me in the nose.
I deserved it. But Wyatt didn’t deserve what was going to happen to him if I didn’t go home and give Senator Brooks and his people what they wanted.
Rachel’s voice rose in volume and I winced, my headache back in full force. “But no. It’s not about that for you. What are you after, Lindsey? Money? Right? You get to buy a new car and all the warriors here get to die a little more inside every damn day. Tell me I’m wrong? Tell me you’re not some selfish, stupid little girl willing to ruin all their lives for nothing more than a few more zeros in your bank account. Money, right? That’s why you’re so desperate to get this story and go home.”
I couldn’t deny it. If I did, I’d have to tell her the truth. “Seems like you’ve got me all figured out.” I sniffed, lifted my chin and looked straight at her with the tears pooling in my eyes. She was a warped blur on the other side of those stinging tears. “You think you’re so smart. Keep talking.”
She offered me a small smile, crossed her arms. “Everyone’s asked why you’re here. Everyone else believes your story.” She walked to the wall, to a small table and brought back a soft cloth. “Wipe away those tears, Lindsey, and tell me what’s really going on. It’s just us. No one else is around. You’re Kiel’s mate. That means you’re mine now, too. Kiel is a good man, and he’s suffered enough. Tell me why you’re really here. Let me help you. Let Maxim help you. Prime Nial is my husband’s friend. He’s mated to a human, too. Her name is Jessica. She’ll help you, too. You just have to tell me the truth.”
We were in a second room of the medical unit. While there were some doctors and technicians in the other room, Rachel had claimed this space for privacy. Now I knew why she wanted it. She was whispering now and I took the small white cloth and wiped my eyes as she whispered. “Why are youhere?”
I took a deep breath. Let it out. My gut made the decision to trust her. My heart was talking before my brain could catch up. There was just something fierce about Rachel, something strong. I trusted her to help me.
“My son. His name is Wyatt and he’s three.”
Her dark eyes widened. “You have a son?”
I choked on a sob and took a deep breath, trying to suck in strength like air. “A little over three months ago, we were in a car accident. I came out with just cuts and bruises, but even in his car seat, Wyatt was hurt. His leg. It was broken, cut, destroyed. They patched him up, did a couple surgeries, but couldn’t fix him. The growth plate was damaged and is fusing early. His leg is going to stop growing. They want to do surgery to try to help, but it’s not good.”
Rachel remained quiet as I spoke.
“He needs more surgery. More than the ones he’s had. And if they can’t fix it, he’s going to have to have surgery and bone grafting as he grows for the rest of his life. My crap insurance denied the surgery as not medically necessary, which is total bullshit. I am trying to appeal, but…there’s no money.” I laughed but there was no joy in the sound, only despair. I looked her in the eye and told her the rest. “There’s no money to pay for the ones he’s already had.”
“And the Senator offered you a lot of money to come here and get this story?”
I nodded. “Yes. Enough to take care of Wyatt. And I can’t stay here. I can’t be a bride, a mate. I have a son. I’m a mother.” My shoulders were shaking, but I held the cry of pain inside. “Kiel is wonderful. Amazing. God—I can’t describe—” I stuttered, but Rachel was nodding. She understood the pull of mates since she had two. Two! She knew what leaving would cost me. “I—I can’t leave my son. Not even for him.”
“Your son. Without the surgeries now, he’ll be crippled for life?”
I nodded, the tears streaming down my face in silent agony. Now that I’d shared the truth, I couldn’t hold back the pain. “I want the money, but…but I want this ReGen thing more.” I held up the device that was like a magic wand. I waved it about. “This would heal him. Within minutes.”
I slid off the exam table and forced back the tears. I looked Rachel in the eye and held the wand up between us. “I have to go. Take this back to him. Heal him. I don’t care about the story. I never did.”
“They’ll be waiting for you,” she said. “Wanting the story. The video, audio. They won’t pay you without it.”
“I don’t want the money!” I shouted, waving the wand. “I want this.”
“I give you the wand and I keep your story?”
Yes, she was protective. And shrewd. And ridiculously cautious. I couldn’t blame her, not after what had happened to her on Earth.
“I have to give them something.” My voice shook. “They’ll hurt him if I don’t.”
“Nice people.” Rachel studied me closely, but didn’t snatch the wand away. Going over to a wall, she swiped her finger over the glossy black. It came alive with all kinds of colors and words, shapes and numbers. After a few more swipes, a screen appeared that displayed the Interstellar Brides Program logo.
“I’m not going to be a bride,” I said.
“You don’t need to be. You’re already mated to Kiel.”
“Oh god,” I murmured, my heart breaking all over again. “Kiel.”
She turned away from the wall display and faced me. “You will return to Earth, to your son, Wyatt, and walk away from your marked mate?”
“Can he come with me?”
She shook her head. “No. Earth won’t even take back its own soldiers who’ve been contaminated by Hive tech. They’ll never agree to allow an alien to live there. I mean, Kiel wouldn’t exactly blend in.”
“Can Wyatt live here? Can Maxim or the Prime you were talking about get Wyatt permission to live here?” I was grasping at straws, but maybe there was a chance we could all be together. I knew the rules, but hoped one could be bent…for me.